Sir Elton Hercules John (Elton John) was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25th, 1947. As a British singer, songwriter, and pianist, he has made a lasting impact on the music industry. With a musical career spanning more than 6 decades, he has solidified the title as one of the best-selling music artists of all time. After formally retiring in 2023, Elton John returns to the stage at 78 to showcase yet another new album in spectacular fashion.
Elton John – The Beginning
Elton John, though struggling to get through basic school, fell in love with music as a young boy. He first discovered the piano at his grandmother’s house at the age of six. After his mother heard him picking up songs by ear after only one year, she signed him up for his first formal piano lesson at the age of seven. For the next five years, he would spend his weekends at the Academy in central London, playing the piano and singing in the choir. Elton was raised primarily by his mother and maternal Grandmother as his father was uninterested in his son and often absent.
Elton John landed his first gig at age 15 at a pub in a local hotel. He played the piano there 4 nights a week. He was known simply as “Reggie”. He would play a range of popular songs, including some by Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, as well as his own songs. It was at this time that he started wearing horn-rimmed glasses to imitate Buddy Holly. He has carried out that look throughout his career, accumulating around 15,000 pairs in total.
Elton John – The Career of an Icon
Elton John, throughout his career from 1970 to 2023, did 50 tours worldwide. This relates to over 4000 concert performances in more than 80 countries. In 1974, he formed his own label, The Rocket Record Company. He worked with some of the greats, including Neil Sedaka, Kiki Dee, Pete Townshend and John Lennon to name a few. His label was very successful and stayed active until 1980. Elton often expresses his appreciation for the accomplishments of young artists. He has collaborated with many of them in the 21st century, saying, “It keeps me animated and happy. These are the kind of artists that keep me young”.
Honours and Awards:
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – 1975
- Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame – 1992
- Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 1994
- Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire – 1995
- Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II – 1998
- MusiCares Person of the Year Award – 2000
- Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award – 2005
- Disney Legends Award – 2006
- PRS for Music Heritage Award – 2010
- Appointed a chevalier of the Legion of Honour – 2019
- Featured on a series of UK Postage Stamps – 2019
- Presented the National Humanities Medal – 2022
- Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song – 1994 & 2019
- Tony Award for Best Original Score for Aida – 2000
- Brit Awards – 1991 for Best British Male and 1986 & 1995 for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
- Brits Icon Award – 2013
- Achieved EGOT status – 2024
- Named Time Magazine’s Icon of the Year – 2024
Elton John has, without a doubt, been an icon in the music industry. Throughout his career, he has put out 31 studio albums, five collaborative studio albums, 10 soundtrack albums, and five live albums. He has also starred in eight films, in seven of which he played himself. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the game and is well known for his flashy looks and performances. We haven’t heard an album from the icon since 2021, after officially announcing his retirement in 2023.
Elton John – The Return
Sir Elton John, after retiring after a 50-year career, has graced us once again with an album. He made his debut, for the first time ever, at the iconic London Palladium, a 2300-seat venue, with the American singer Brandi Carlile. At 78 years old, the Elton John we all know and love did not disappoint as he put on an energetic, 75-minute performance in front of the star-studded crowd. He performed titles from the new album, to be released on April 4th, ‘Who Believes in Angels,’ as well as a number of classics from his catalogue. He had the crowd on their feet. He declared that the new studio album is “the start of my career Mark 2”.
